"The Age of Louis the XIV", Volume VIII of "The Story of Civilization".  "On September 7, 1651, John Evylyn, from the Paris apartment of Thomas Hobbes, watched the procession that escorted the boy monarch, now thirteen, to the ceremony that was to mark the end of his minority.  "A young Apollo," the Englishman described him.  "He went almost the whole way with his hat in hand, saluting the ladies and aclamators who filled the windows with their beauty, and the air with Vive le Roi!"  Louis might then have taken over full authority from Mazarin, but he respected his minister's suave resourcefulness, and allowed him to hold the reins for nine more years.  Nevertheless, when the Cardinal died, he confessed, "I do not know what I should have done if he had lived much longer."  After Mazarin's death the heads of the departments came to Louis and asked to whom henceforth they should address themselves for instructions.  He answered, with decisive simplicity, "To me."  From that day (March 9, 1661) till September 1,